Plant-protector



(No Model.)

G. WILLIAMS.

PLANT PROTECTOR. PatentedfJnly 7, 1896.

flearyeWzi'ams, I

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WVILLIAMS, OF ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.

PLANT-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1 \To. 563,532, dated July 7, 1896.

Application filed June 10, 1895. Serial No. 552,277. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Royal Oak, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plant- Protectors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

It is the special object of my invention to provide a means for protecting young and tender plants from frosts or sudden changes of temperature in the spring of the year; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of a protecting frame or box composed of separated side sections adapted to be quickly placed together around the plant and as readily removed when no longer needed.

My invention further consists in the means employed for holding the ends of the box together and for securing a protecting-coverin g thereto, an d,further, in the peculiar construction of parts whereby the device when not in use may be stored in the smallest possible space, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the protector-box and the securinghoop therefor. Fig. 2 is a cross section through the device in use. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the parts in knockdown position as arranged for storing. Fig. 4 is a perspec tive view of one of the side sections. Fig. 5 is a section through the corner of a modified form of box. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a protector provided with an additional upper section.

My protector consists in a box A, composed of similarly-formed side sections B, preferably four in number. Each side section is formed with parallel top and bottom edges G O, and the ends D D inclined inwardly from bottom to top.

E is an angle-groove formed at the end D, preferably by means of the cleat F, nailed or otherwise secured to the side of the section and projecting beyond the end thereof.

G is an angle-groove formed at the end D, preferably by the cleat H, secured to the opposite side of the section at a distance from the end D equal to the thickness of the section. The cleats F and H serve to hold the section from warping and as they are of uni-- form thickness the sections may be conveniently piled together when not in use, as shown in Fig. 3.

The sections B may be placed around the plant to be protected, to form a box, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the groove E receiving the end D and the groove G receiving the end D of the adjacent sections. The inclined ends of the sections will throw their top edges in far enough to render it unnecessary under ordinary circumstances to secure the sections together, especially so if the gardener presses the bottom. edge of each section into the soft soil, which will hold it in position. In case, however, a strong wind is blowing, it maybe necessary to lock the sections together, and this may be done by providing each with a securing device, such as a button or hook and eye, but preferably by means of a hoop I, adapted to be dropped over the top of the box. jointed sections J, each provided with a hook K at one end and an eye L at the other end. When not in use,the sections may be detached and thus more conveniently stored.

In Fig. 6 l have shown a box provided with an upper extension formed of sections M similar to the sections B but shorter, the lower edge being equal in length to the upper edge of the section B. This may be used when the plant is taller than the width of a single box.

\Vhen it is desired to protect the plant from frost, a piece of cloth or other suitable coverin g may be placed across the top of the box and secured by the hoop I, as shown in Fig. 2. The box may also be used as a hot-bed by laying a piece of glass across the top.

Although I prefer to form the side section as described the cleats E and 11 may be omitted and a rabbet N formed in one end of the sections, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

My protector-box may be made of any number of side sections, and thus by enlarging the angle of the grooves E and G a large bed maybe surrounded with sections and thereby be protected.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A plant-protector consisting of a box formed of separate side sections adapted to be placed together, each section having an angle-groove formed at its end adapted to receive the end of an adjacent section, and a This hoop I is preferably formed of 1 IOC securing-hoop formed of detachable jointed sections corresponding to the side sections of the box, substantially as described.

2. A plant-protector consisting of a box formed of separate side sections adapted to be placed together around the plant, each section having its ends inclined inwardly from bottom to top, an angle-groove formed at the end of one section adapted to receive the end 1: of the adjacent section and a securing-hoop formed of detachable, jointed sections corresponding to the side sections of the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE WILLIAMS. \Vitnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, O. F. BARTHEL. 

